06/08/2026
This is a very good letter. The Mayor and Council should have anticipated the importance of public interest and input this effort would generate.
Our Open Letter to Norman City Council about the proposed Sooner Mall giveaway:
Dear City Council,
We were disappointed to learn that a sales tax reimbursement agreement may be considered for Sooner Mall.
Our concern is not with any individual property owner, but with the scope and intended use of the program. To our knowledge, this incentive was not originally envisioned as a retail assistance program.
Norman’s local businesses and commercial districts have repeatedly identified public infrastructure improvements, accessibility, streetscape enhancements, and other community-serving investments as priorities. In this case, however, the reimbursement would be directed toward improvements on private property.
Before moving forward, we believe the community deserves a broader discussion about how this program should be used, who is eligible to apply, how projects will be evaluated, and what level of funding is available.
Local businesses and property owners are investing millions of dollars of private capital into Norman while contributing to the city’s tax base. They deserve clarity about whether this opportunity is available to them and under what criteria.
We also recognize that available funding is finite. It is unlikely that every qualifying business, property owner, or commercial district could be accommodated. That makes it especially important that the Council establish clear priorities and expectations before considering requests of this nature.
The question before the Council is larger than any single project. It is whether a public incentive intended to advance economic development should be available for private retail property improvements, and if so, under what rules and limitations.
For these reasons, we respectfully ask that consideration of the Sooner Mall proposal be postponed until the Council has an opportunity to publicly discuss the program’s intended use, funding capacity, eligibility standards, and application process.
Thank you for your service to Norman and for your thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Norman Downtowners Board, and the dozens of independent businesses we represent
